Did many expats move out of Buenos Aires due to the higher cost of living?

[sophos]

Just a gentle reminder that Argentina doesn’t begin and end with Buenos Aires. There are plenty of other places where one can live quite affordably—Córdoba, Mendoza, Salta, Posadas, to name a few significant ones.

Look at places like Mendoza, and my cousin there told me they have been seeing a steady influx of “financial refugees” from the United States, Europe, and Canada—mostly retirees and young professionals working remotely.

My cousin bought a few Airbnb's in Mendoza and there’s an endless stream of Airbnb listings here with empty calendars, priced at three times what they should be. He is priced reasonably and turning people away because he is fully booked.

Yes, the cost of food has gone up, but everyday expenses remain remarkably low. A bus ride costs under $1. My gas bill averages around $15, and electricity runs about $30 in the winter. My cell phone plan is $10 per month, doctor visits range from $25 to $40, and a dental cleaning is about $45. You’d be hard-pressed to find prices like these anywhere in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. So perhaps those lamenting the cost of living in CABA should consider exploring the rest of the country? Just saying.

I know CABA can be expensive. And for context—Mendoza is considered one of the more expensive provinces. Córdoba and Salta are significantly cheaper.

 

[Finance Prof]

I hate when the locals always use that line. They say Argentina should be expensive for tourists and expats! What they fail to realize it is expensive for them too. This is silly. There is NO reason Argentina should have the most expensive food in the world. This makes it impossible for retirees like me or other retirees from Argentina. In the past 2 years since Milei won everything is 3 times more expensive in USD but they say inflation has vanished! What lies!

This is all going to come crashing down.

Not to be that person, but let’s remember inflation is a rate of growth, not some magical reset button. Low inflation just means your sky-high prices have decided to hang out at the top for a while. If everything’s already unaffordable, hooray—low inflation doesn’t exactly fix that.

And for the record, inflation isn’t actually low—it’s just less insane than it was before. So, you know… progress.

 

[ben]

Oh sure, Argentina’s totally going to change—any day now—even though nobody seems to grasp a basic concept of capitalism: in a competitive market, you make money on volume, not sky-high margins.

But nope. Here, the brilliant strategy is to slap ridiculous prices on everything and then stand around looking confused when nothing sells. Shocking outcome, right?

Until that little mental “chip” finally flips, the economy’s going nowhere fast.

 

[Avocado]

I hate when the locals always use that line. They say Argentina should be expensive for tourists and expats! What they fail to realize it is expensive for them too. This is silly. There is NO reason Argentina should have the most expensive food in the world. This makes it impossible for retirees like me or other retirees from Argentina. In the past 2 years since Milei won everything is 3 times more expensive in USD but they say inflation has vanished! What lies!

This is all going to come crashing down.

It makes no sense to be the most expensive country in the world on many products and services. Food here is outrageous. I can not go out to eat any longer. Costs have skyrocketed. Milei's time will pass.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Just a gentle reminder that Argentina doesn’t begin and end with Buenos Aires. There are plenty of other places where one can live quite affordably—Córdoba, Mendoza, Salta, Posadas, to name a few significant ones.

Look at places like Mendoza, and my cousin there told me they have been seeing a steady influx of “financial refugees” from the United States, Europe, and Canada—mostly retirees and young professionals working remotely.

My cousin bought a few Airbnb's in Mendoza and there’s an endless stream of Airbnb listings here with empty calendars, priced at three times what they should be. He is priced reasonably and turning people away because he is fully booked.

Yes, the cost of food has gone up, but everyday expenses remain remarkably low. A bus ride costs under $1. My gas bill averages around $15, and electricity runs about $30 in the winter. My cell phone plan is $10 per month, doctor visits range from $25 to $40, and a dental cleaning is about $45. You’d be hard-pressed to find prices like these anywhere in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. So perhaps those lamenting the cost of living in CABA should consider exploring the rest of the country? Just saying.

I know CABA can be expensive. And for context—Mendoza is considered one of the more expensive provinces. Córdoba and Salta are significantly cheaper.

Great points @sophos. I couldn't live the quality of life that I have in BA in the USA. Doing an apples to apples comparison of living in a large major city like BA no way I could get by on what I'm spending. Even having a paid off place in the USA is expensive with HOA and expenses and especially property taxes. My apartment is paid off and I can get by very easily here.

Granted I can't eat out everyday like I once did.

 

[FuturoBA]

Just a gentle reminder that Argentina doesn’t begin and end with Buenos Aires. There are plenty of other places where one can live quite affordably—Córdoba, Mendoza, Salta, Posadas, to name a few significant ones.

Look at places like Mendoza, and my cousin there told me they have been seeing a steady influx of “financial refugees” from the United States, Europe, and Canada—mostly retirees and young professionals working remotely.

My cousin bought a few Airbnb's in Mendoza and there’s an endless stream of Airbnb listings here with empty calendars, priced at three times what they should be. He is priced reasonably and turning people away because he is fully booked.

Yes, the cost of food has gone up, but everyday expenses remain remarkably low. A bus ride costs under $1. My gas bill averages around $15, and electricity runs about $30 in the winter. My cell phone plan is $10 per month, doctor visits range from $25 to $40, and a dental cleaning is about $45. You’d be hard-pressed to find prices like these anywhere in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. So perhaps those lamenting the cost of living in CABA should consider exploring the rest of the country? Just saying.

I know CABA can be expensive. And for context—Mendoza is considered one of the more expensive provinces. Córdoba and Salta are significantly cheaper.

This kinda puzzled me why so many leave Argentina completely vs relocating somewhere more affordable within it. Now it's not the same but seems like many are leaving BA to go to a smaller city in Spain, Mexico, Colombia etc where they could have gone to a smaller city here such as a Mendoza or Cordoba. For those that left, I'm sure yall must have considered them and what made you ultimately go to Spain or where ever you ended up at? @James Bond I know you went to Spain did you consider other provinces within Argentina and what were reasons either for or against them?

Great points @sophos. I couldn't live the quality of life that I have in BA in the USA. Doing an apples to apples comparison of living in a large major city like BA no way I could get by on what I'm spending. Even having a paid off place in the USA is expensive with HOA and expenses and especially property taxes. My apartment is paid off and I can get by very easily here.

Granted I can't eat out everyday like I once did.

Yeah even if I paid off my house in the US, I calculated how much taxes, HOAs, insurance (home, car, health), utilities, gas, maintenance etc would be more than what I expect to spend monthly in BA for everything.

 

[Digital Nomad]

I think the wildcard is having

This kinda puzzled me why so many leave Argentina completely vs relocating somewhere more affordable within it. Now it's not the same but seems like many are leaving BA to go to a smaller city in Spain, Mexico, Colombia etc where they could have gone to a smaller city here such as a Mendoza or Cordoba. For those that left, I'm sure yall must have considered them and what made you ultimately go to Spain or where ever you ended up at? @James Bond I know you went to Spain did you consider other provinces within Argentina and what were reasons either for or against them?

Yeah even if I paid off my house in the US, I calculated how much taxes, HOAs, insurance (home, car, health), utilities, gas, maintenance etc would be more than what I expect to spend monthly in BA for everything.

I also wondered why people don't just move to another city but honestly I think that the reason they might move back to the USA or Europe is there are more job opportunities. It's IMPOSSIBLE to make money in Argentina. I know for me I have a digital remote job and that was the only way I could afford to live in BA. I looked around and people living there make very little. I was dating a Porteña and her family was loaded. They had a ton of money and her dad was her sugar. He paid for everything and most of her friends were in the same situation.

Seems like a big divide in BA of haves and have nots.

@FuturoBA I remember you said you bought a place and paid if off. Honestly you should be in great position. I looked at some apartments and expenses were much cheaper than US and utility bills are cheap too. I was in an Airbnb and saw the bills and they weren't much at all compared to US. What blew me away was health insurance there was very expensive in Argentina. Like more than the USA or as much. Dining out became crazy at popular places but even mid level places I was surprised.

When you moving down Futuro?

 

[FuturoBA]

I think the wildcard is having

I also wondered why people don't just move to another city but honestly I think that the reason they might move back to the USA or Europe is there are more job opportunities. It's IMPOSSIBLE to make money in Argentina. I know for me I have a digital remote job and that was the only way I could afford to live in BA. I looked around and people living there make very little. I was dating a Porteña and her family was loaded. They had a ton of money and her dad was her sugar. He paid for everything and most of her friends were in the same situation.

Seems like a big divide in BA of haves and have nots.

@FuturoBA I remember you said you bought a place and paid if off. Honestly you should be in great position. I looked at some apartments and expenses were much cheaper than US and utility bills are cheap too. I was in an Airbnb and saw the bills and they weren't much at all compared to US. What blew me away was health insurance there was very expensive in Argentina. Like more than the USA or as much. Dining out became crazy at popular places but even mid level places I was surprised.

When you moving down Futuro?

I keep delaying it but current goal is to move down around September/October. I see my rental expenses and things still going up (expensas, utilities, maids/cleaning etc), albeit slower than last year but still much lower than US.

I think you said you had to return back to US per your job, any plans to return to BA as you were also looking to purchase previously?

 

[Digital Nomad]

I keep delaying it but current goal is to move down around September/October. I see my rental expenses and things still going up (expensas, utilities, maids/cleaning etc), albeit slower than last year but still much lower than US.

I think you said you had to return back to US per your job, any plans to return to BA as you were also looking to purchase previously?

I did a consultation with @BuySellBA several months ago and it is spooky how everything that is happening now they told me would happen. They told me that many locals would eventually get rid of their Airbnbs and shift over to the long term market. That is happening. All my ex novias friends sold their furniture and doing long term now. I read the prices are even falling on long term because so many from STR market are flooding back to the LTR market.

Interesting @FuturoBA that you mention about expenses keep goign up. That is what Mike told me would happen many months ago. He explained that tourism is going to get gutted in the short term with the exchange rate too strong and it would die. I just read an article that said the hotels are only at 20% occupancy this month! I guess that would be the same for apartment rentals on Airbnb. He said that owners would get tired of the higher utility bills and monthly condo fees and just do long term rentals and that is happening! How much is it going up @FuturoBA? Are you making good money? I read a thread where @Johnny was making a fortune on his Airbnb in Palermo. It didn't look too big but I tried to rent it a few times and it's always booked!

My job made a mandatory in office at least 2 times a week now so I had to come back to the USA. I couldn't find a remote job making anything close to what I was making. I was going to buy a place in BA but that depended on a loan from my dad and he was reluctant. We had a deal if my relationship lasted at least a year he would but my girlfriend ended up cheating on me so I left BA. My dad was reluctant to buy down there as he read horror stories but he did a Zoom with @BuySellBA and me and he was totally impressed.

October is a great time to be in BA @FuturoBA . I may head down during high season and if so maybe we can meet up.

Just saw the exchange rate went over 1,300 to $1 so by then maybe it will be higher as Mike is predicting!

 

[Johnny]

I hate when the locals always use that line. They say Argentina should be expensive for tourists and expats! What they fail to realize it is expensive for them too. This is silly. There is NO reason Argentina should have the most expensive food in the world. This makes it impossible for retirees like me or other retirees from Argentina. In the past 2 years since Milei won everything is 3 times more expensive in USD but they say inflation has vanished! What lies!

This is all going to come crashing down.

I was shocked shocked on my last trip. When I came in November 2023 it felt almost free. I didn't feel good paying so cheap and I felt guilty. I was giving Uber drivers 100% tip. I didn't know how they could get by.

My last trip a few weeks ago I was shocked but the other way. I couldn't believe how quickly things could turn in a short amount of time. I spent $9 dollars for a choripan in Palermo. That is much more than I would spend in C

I did a consultation with @BuySellBA several months ago and it is spooky how everything that is happening now they told me would happen. They told me that many locals would eventually get rid of their Airbnbs and shift over to the long term market. That is happening. All my ex novias friends sold their furniture and doing long term now. I read the prices are even falling on long term because so many from STR market are flooding back to the LTR market.

Interesting @FuturoBA that you mention about expenses keep goign up. That is what Mike told me would happen many months ago. He explained that tourism is going to get gutted in the short term with the exchange rate too strong and it would die. I just read an article that said the hotels are only at 20% occupancy this month! I guess that would be the same for apartment rentals on Airbnb. He said that owners would get tired of the higher utility bills and monthly condo fees and just do long term rentals and that is happening! How much is it going up @FuturoBA? Are you making good money? I read a thread where @Johnny was making a fortune on his Airbnb in Palermo. It didn't look too big but I tried to rent it a few times and it's always booked!

My job made a mandatory in office at least 2 times a week now so I had to come back to the USA. I couldn't find a remote job making anything close to what I was making. I was going to buy a place in BA but that depended on a loan from my dad and he was reluctant. We had a deal if my relationship lasted at least a year he would but my girlfriend ended up cheating on me so I left BA. My dad was reluctant to buy down there as he read horror stories but he did a Zoom with @BuySellBA and me and he was totally impressed.

October is a great time to be in BA @FuturoBA . I may head down during high season and if so maybe we can meet up.

Just saw the exchange rate went over 1,300 to $1 so by then maybe it will be higher as Mike is predicting!

I'm not sure how @earlyretirement does it but things are happening exactly what he told me would happen in July 2023 when he first recommended that I jump on a unit. He was buying a few units or himself and his other clients in Palermo and I invest with him on many projects in Mexico. I only invest in buildings where he also owns units. I figure if it's good enough or him then it's good enough or me! I did this already in Guadalajara on several, Cabo and Buenos Aires.

With my first apartment in Buenos Aires everything came true as predicted. I jumped in and the value of my place has gone up about 40% in a short amount of time based on what I paid and what others have offered to buy my apartment at. My apartment is booked solid since it finished last year. I have only had 6 days where it wasn't rented since the end of November 2024. It is booked until October and I already have bookings for October and November. It has been my best investment I ever made.

More importantly I went a few weeks ago and it turned out better than I imagined and I love staying in it. I had 2 offers to book it for one year including the Germany Embassy in BA but I turned it down as I want to stay in it myself.